Stoker mechanism



`1,957,680 ANGE May 8, l934 c. J. sURDYKoWsKl, Now BY JUDICIAL cH oF NAME c. J. sURDY STOKER MECHANISM Filed Oct. 19, 1932 INVENTOR. Jsmy/Owm ATTORNEY.

Patented May 8, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STOKER MECHANISM poration of Delaware Application October 19, 1932, Serial No. 638,451

13 Claims.

This invention relates to stoker mechanism and more particularly to drive mechanism for the stokers of the type which have two or more of their screw conveyors in end to end relation.

5 It has been found in the use of stokers that foreign material such as spikes, pick handles and tramp iron which is found in coal, often times lodges between the screw flights and the crusher or in some part of the stoker where a sharp bend is present. The foreign material thus lodged stalls the stoker and much time is required before the fireman can locate and release the clog. During this time, steam pressure in the boiler must be maintained and since the stoker is inoperative, the fireman must divide his time between hand firing of the boiler firebox and his eorts to release the clog. Accordingly, it is the chief object of this invention to provide in stokers having several of their conveying screws in end to end relation, a drive mechanism which permits the operation of a portion of the rscrew conveying system when a clog occurs so that fuel may be conveyed to the distributing member of the Stoker; or expressing this object in another way, it is a purpose of the invention to provide, in stokers of the type referred to, means for interrupting the operation of one of said screw ysections during the continued operation of the remainder of said connected screw sections.

A further object of this invention is the provision in stokers of the type specified and during such times when a clog occurs of means for operating that portion of the screw conveying system which is free from clogs and the provision of a suitable hopper for receiving a charge of fuel supplied manually thereto.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a screw conveying system comprising a plurality of screw sections jointed at their adjacent ends and having drive mechanism associated with one end section of the screw conveying system, the screw system further including a drive shaft passing freely through said end screw section and being jointed to the remainder of said conveying system, and clutch mechanism for interrupting the operation of said end screw section during the continued operation of the remainder of said system.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following specification is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a central vertical lngitudinal section through the adjacent portions of a locomotive and tender showing the invention in similar section; and

Figure 2 is a section of Figure 1.

Referring now to this drawing which illustrates the invention as applied to a locomotive, 10 designates the locomotive boiler, which is provided with a flrebox 11, a firing opening 12 in the backwall 13 and a cab deck 1,4. Coupled to the locomotive as at 15 is a tender 16 having a fuel bunker 17 disposed above the floor 18 thereof. A stoker is generally indicated by S and includes a trough 19 disposed below the fuel bunker 17 for receiving fuel through an aperture 20 in the oor 18. Mounted on the locomotive is a riser conduit 21 which is in communication with the lower portion of the firing opening 12 and delivers fuel upon the distributor plate 22, which, in conjunction with a pressure uid head 24, projects fuel over the rebed. At its lower end, the riser conduit is provided with a spherical seat 25 for receiving a ball member 26 of an intermediate conduit 27. The intermediate conduit comprises the telescopically related sections 28 and 29, the section 28 being exibly connected with the riser conduit 21, while the section 29 is flexibly connected to the trough 19. Housed within the trough, intermediate conduit and the riser conduit are the screw sections 30, 31 and 32 respectively, which operate normally as a continuous conveying system. The screws 31, 32 each consist of a shaft portion 31a., 32a, having the spiraliiight or conveying element 31h, 32D wound on the shaft of the respective screw. Fuel which drops into the trough 19 is carried forwardly by the screw section 30 therein, oversize lumps being reduced by a Crusher 33, and then the fuel is conveyed forwardly and upwardly by the remainder of the conveying screw system to the distributor plate 22 for distribution over the fire.

The stoker described thus far is of a well known construction and needs no further description; the present invention residing in the provision of the novel drive mechanism for the screw conveying system which will now be fully described. The screw section 30 comprising a hub 36 which is hollowed throughout its length as at 37 and has a rearward portion 38 journalled in a bearing 39 of the gear case 40. Housed within the gear case 40 is a gear 41 driven by a pinion 42 which receives power from a suitable source (not shown). The gear 41 is operatively mounted upon a shaftI 43 which passes through the hollowed screw hub 36 and extends beyond the forward end of the screw 30 to receive a jaw 44 taken on the line 2-2 forming one element of a universal joint 45 which connects the screw section 30 and the shaft 43.

Secured to the rearward portion 38 of the screw 30 is a clutch member 46 which is normally engaged by a clutch 47 slidably mounted on the key 60 of the shaft 43. The clutch 47 is moved longitudinally upon the shaft 43 by a fork 48 which is operable by means of a rod 49 and an arm 50. The rod 49 is connected to a fulcrumed lever 51 at the forward end of the tender within convenient reach of the fireman.

During the normal operation of the stoker, the clutch 47 is in engagement with the member 46 and in this manner transmits power for operating the screw sections 30, 31 and 32. Thus the screw 30 normally comprises the shaft 43 with a spiral flight or conveying element 30a wound thereabout; and the shaft 43 of the screw 30 is connected to the shaft portion 31a of the screw 31 by the universal joint 45. When a pieceof tramp iron or other foreign matter becomes lodged between the fiights of the screw 30 and the Crusher 33, the entire conveying system will become inoperative and no more fuel will be fed into the rebox. The fireman then grasps the fulcrumed lever 51 and places it in the position shown in Figure 1, causing the clutch 47 to disengage the member 46 and thereby permitting` only the universally connected screw sections 31 and 32 to be operated directly by the shaft 43. After the screw sections 31 and 32 are placed in operation, the cover plate 52, which forms a portion of the cab deck 14, is uncovered and a supply of fuel is shovelled into the hopper 53 of the riser conduit 21 and thereabove so that the Stoker may deliver fuel into the rebox without further attention of the fireman for a prolonged period. During this time, the fireman is'free to direct his efforts in removing the clog, and upon doing so, the clutch 47 is caused to engage the member 46, whereby the stoker will operate normally.

While the invention has been described in connection with a locomotive and also in use with but one form of stoker, it is to be understood that the use of this invention is not confined to the structure shown herein, but is capable of widespread use in connection with conveyor systems of many forms, substantially as defined by v the following claims.

I claim:

1. A conveying system including a conduit having a material receiving portion and a material discharge portion, a conveyor screw in said conduit comprising a plurality of screw sections, one of said screw sections being disposed within the material receiving portion of said conduit, such screw section including a spiral conveying element and a shaft passing through such conveying element, the shaft of said screw section being jointed to an adjacentscrew section inend to end relation, mechanism for driving said conveyor screw, and means for interrupting the operation of the screw section within the material receiving portion of said conduit during continued operation of the remainderof said conveyor screw, said conduit being arranged to receive material at a point adjacent such remaining portion of the conveyor screw.

2. A conveyor system including a conduit having a material receiving portion and a material discharge portion, a conveyor screw in said conduit comprising a plurality of screw sections, one of said screw sections being disposed within the material receiving portion of said conduit, such Vscrew section including a spiral conveying element and a shaft passing through such conveying element, the shaft of said screw section being jointed to an adjacent screw section in end to end relation, mechanism at one end of said conveyor screw for driving the same, and means for interrupting the operation of the screw section within the material receiving portion of said conduit during continued operation of the remainder of said conveyor screw, said conduit being arranged to receive material at a point adjacent such remaining portion of the conveyor screw.

3. A conveying system including a conduit having a material receiving portion and a material discharge portion, a conveyor screw in said conduit comprising a plurality of screw sections, one of said screw sections being disposed within the material receiving portion of said conduit, such screw section including a spiral conveying element and a shaft passing through such conveying element, the shaft of said screw section being jointed to an adjacent screw section in end to end relation, mechanism adjacent the material receiving portion of said conduit for driving said conveyor screw, and means for interrupting the operation of the screw section within the material receiving portion of said conduit during continued operation of the remainder of said conveyor screw, said conduit being arranged to receive material at a point adjacent such remaining 'portion of the conveyor screw.

4. A conveying system including a conduit having a material receiving portion and a material discharge portion, a conveyor screw in said conduit comprising a plurality of screw sections, one of said screw sections being disposed within the material receiving portion-of said conduit, such screw section including a spiral conveying element and a shaft passing freely through such conveying element, said shaft of the named screw section being jointed to an adjacent screw section in end to end relation, a drive gear fixed upon said shaft for rotating the same, a clutch slidably mounted on said shaft and rotatable therewith, a clutch member secured to one end of the screw section which is disposed within said material receiving portion of said conduit, said clutch member being adjacent said clutch, and means for sliding said clutch along said shaft for engaging and disengaging said clutch and said clutch member, the disengagement of said clutch and clutch member interrupting operation of the screw section within the material receiving portion of said conduit during continued operation of the remainder of said conveyor screw, said conduit being arranged to receive material at a point adjacent such remaining portion of the conveyor screw.

5. A conveying system including a conduit having a material receiving portion and a material discharge portion, a conveyor screw in said conduit comprising a plurality of screw sections, one of said screw sections being disposed within the material receiving portion of said conduit, such screw section including a spiral conveying element and a shaft passing freely through such conveying element, a universal joint jaw member secured to one end of said shaft forming one element of a universal connection between said shaft and an adjacent screw section, a gear case disposed at the opposite end of said shaft, a bearing formed with the gear case constituting a journal for the screw section within the material receiving portion of said conduit, a gear fixed upon said shaft for rotating the same, a clutch sldably mounted on said shaft and rotatable therewith, a clutch member secured to the journalled portion of the named screw section, and means for sliding said clutch along said shaft for engaging and disengaging said clutch and said clutch member, the disengagement of said clutch and said clutch member interrupting operation of the screw section within the material receiving portion of said conduit during continued operation of the remainder of said conveyor screws, said conduit being` arranged to receive material at a point adjacent such 'remaining portion of said conveyor screw. l

6. A conveying system including a continuous conduit having a material receiving portion and a material discharge portion, a conveyor screw in said continuous conduit comprising a plurality of screw sections, one of said screw sections being disposed within the material receiving portion of said conduit, such screw section including a spiral conveying element and a shaft passing through such conveying element, said shaft of the named screw section being jointed to an adjacent screw section in end to end relation, mechanism for operating said conveyor screw, and means for interrupting the operation of said material receiving screw section during the continued operation of the remaining portion of said conveyor screw, said continuous conduit arranged to permit the delivery of material to that portion thereof housing the material delivery screw section.

7. A conveying system including a continuous conduit having a material receiving portion and a material discharge portion, a conveyor screw in said continuous conduit comprising a plurality of screw sections, one of said screw sections being disposed within the material receiving portion of said conduit, such screw section including a spiral conveying element and a shaft passing through such conveying element, said shaft of the named screw section being jointed to an adjacent screw section in end to end relation, mechanism for operating said conveyor screw, and means for interrupting the operation of said material receiving screw section during the continued operation of the remaining portion of said conveyor screw, and a hopper formed in that portion of said continuous conduit housing the material delivery screw sections.

8. A conveying system including a continuous conduit having a material receiving portion and a material discharge portion, a conveyor screw in said continuous conduit comprising a plurality of screw sections housed within said continuous conduit, said screw sections including material receiving and material delivery screw sections, said material receiving screw section having a hollowed hub, a shaft passing through said hollowed hub, said shaft being jointed to an adjacent screw section in end to end relation, a drive gear xed upon said shaft for rotating the same, a clutch slidably mounted on said shaft and rotatable therewith, a clutch member secured to one end of said hollowed hub adjacent said clutch, said slidable clutch normally engaging said clutch member for driving said connected screw sections, and means for disengaging said clutch from said clutch member for interrupting theoperation of said material receiving screw section during the continued operation of said material delivery screw section, that portion of said-conduit housing said material delivery screw section arranged to permit the delivery of material thereto.

9. A conveying system including a continuous conduit having a material receiving portion and a material discharge portion, a conveyor screw in said continuous conduit comprising a plurality of screw sections housed within said continuous' conduit, said screw sectionsincluding material receiving and material delivery screw sections, said material receiving screw section having a hollowed hub, a shaft passing through said hollowed hub, said shaft being jointed to an adjacent screw section in end to end relation, a drive gear xed upon said shaft for rotating the same, a clutch Slidably mounted on said shaft and rotatable therewith, a clutch member secured to one end of said hollowed hub adjacent said clutch, said slidable clutch normally engaging said clutch member for driving said connected screw sections, means for disengaging said clutch from said clutch member for interrupting the operation of said material receiving screw section during the continued operation of said material delivery screw section, and a hopper formed in that portion of said continuous conduit housing the material delivery screw section.

10. In a locomotive stoker comprising a trough mounted. beneath a fuel bin and receiving fuel therefrom and a riser conduit mounted on the locomotive delivering fuel into a firebox, a fuel conveying system comprising a plurality of screw sections including a section in said trough and a screw section for urging fuel through said riser conduit, the screw section in said trough comprising a spiral conveying element and a shaft passing therethrough, one end of said shaft and an adjacent screw section being joint- `ed in end to end relation and forming an operative connection between said screw section for driving the same, mechanism for driving said conveying system, and means for interrupting the operation of the rst named screw during the continued operation of said second named screw section, said stoker being arranged for the manual delivery of fuel thereto at a point forward of said trough.

l1. In a locomotive Stoker comprising a trough mounted beneath a fuel bin and receiving fuel therefrom and ariser conduit mounted on the locomotive delivering fuel into a flrebox, a fuel conveying system comprising a plurality of screw sections including a section in said trough and a screw section in said riser conduit for urging fuel therethrough, the screw section in said trough comprising a spiral conveying element and a shaft passing therethrough, one end of said shaft and an adjacent screw section being jointed in end to end relation and forming an operative connection between said screw sections for driving the same, mechanism for driving said conveying system, and means for interrupting the operation of the screw in said trough during the continued operation of the screw in said riser conduit, said stoker being arranged for the manual delivery of fuel thereto at `a point forward of said trough.

l2. In combination with a locomotive having a firing opening and a cab provided with a deck,

and a tender for said locomotive having a fuel bin, a stoker including a trough disposed below said fuel bin and receiving fuel therefrom, a conduit on the locomotive receiving fuel from said tender and delivering it into the rebox, a conveying system comprising a plurality of screw sections and including a screw section in said trough and a screw section for urging fuel through the named conduit, the screw section in said trough comprising a spiral conveying element and a shaft passing therethrough, one end of said shaft and an adjacent screw section being jointed in end to end relation to form a con- 5 tinuous screw, mechanism for driving said conveying system, means for interrupting the operation of the rst named screw during the continued operation of said second named screw, a hopper formed with said named conduit and opening upwardly through said cab deck, and a cover plate for said hopper constituting a portion of said cab deck.

13. A transferring conduit comprising a gear case mounted at one end thereof, a bearing formed with said gear case, a conveyor screw mounted in said conduit, said conveyor screw having a hollowed hub, said bearing constituting a journal for one end of said hollowed hub, a shaft extending freely through said hollowed hub, a drive gear in said gear case fixed upon said shaft and rotatable therewith, a clutch slidably mounted on said shaft and rotatable therewith,

a clutch member secured to said hollowed hub adjacent said clutch, and a universal joint member secured to said shaft at one end thereof remote from said gear case and extending beyond said hollowed hub'. v

CHARLES J. SURDYKOWSKI.

CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTIQN.

Patent No. l, 957, 680.

May 8, 1934.

CHARLES J. sURDYKowSKI, now by judIcIaI changeof name CHARLES J. SURDY,

lt is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the abovel numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, lines 31 and 32, 49 and 50, claims 6 and 7, respectively, for "material delivery' screw sections" read remaining portion of said conveyor screwyand that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform t0 the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of July, A. D. A1934.

(Seal) Bryan M. Battey -Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

